Wigan bus station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wigan  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The redeveloped bus station | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Location | Hallgate, Wigan Wigan | ||||
| Coordinates | 53°32′48″N 2°38′02″W / 53.5466°N 2.63398°W | ||||
| Operated by | Transport for Greater Manchester | ||||
| Bus stands | 19 | ||||
| Bus operators | |||||
| Connections | |||||
| Construction | |||||
| Bicycle facilities | Yes | ||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Website | TFGM Wigan Bus Station | ||||
| History | |||||
| Opened | 29 November 1987 | ||||
| Closed | 30 July 2017 | ||||
| Rebuilt | 28 October 2018 | ||||
| |||||
Wigan bus station is a bus station located in the town of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is run by Transport for Greater Manchester.
The majority of services that serve Wigan Bus Station are run by Go North West under the Bee Network. Other operators that serve the bus station include Arriva North West, Diamond Bus North West and Holmeswood Coaches.
There are frequent buses running to Bolton, Chorley, Ormskirk, St Helens and Skelmersdale plus several parts of the Wigan area, such as Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Shevington, Leigh, Pemberton, Golborne, Appley Bridge and Standish. Buses also run to Preston, Southport, the Trafford Centre and Warrington.
Redevelopment
In July 2017, it closed for redevelopment with the bus stands temporarily being located around the town centre.[1] The old bus stands were demolished and a new station was built on the same site, the project cost £15.7 million supported by the UK Government through the Greater Manchester Local Growth Deal programme.[2] The bus station opened in October 2018, two months ahead of schedule.[3] The new station added a new covered waiting area with better passenger comfort and security with increased retail space, new toilets and covered cycle parking. The development also has eco-friendly initiatives such as solar panels and the planting of wildflowers. Accessibility was also improved for people with physical disabilities and for the blind and partially sighted.[3]
History
Wigan's original bus station was on Market Square. It was demolished in 1985 as part of a wider redevelopment of the town centre to make way for the Galleries Shopping Centre.[4] A new bus station, built at a cost of £2.3 million, began construction in April 1986,[5], and opened in November 1987.[6] The new station was built on the site of the Queen’s Hall, most of which was demolished to accommodate it.[7]
The facility included 20 stands and could handle up to 72 services. At its opening, it was praised for its accessibility features, including ramps and tactile paving. The station was officially opened in 1988 by the Mayor of Wigan, who unveiled a commemorative plaque.[5] CCTV cameras were installed in 1996 to deter crime,[8] and the station's facilities were further improved in 2001 with a £150,000 upgrade.[6]
